[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [虛堂和尚語錄](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000) › 2.20 # 虛堂和尚語錄 2.20 虛堂和尚語錄 2.20 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [2.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.2.20) 上堂，舉：「興化因僧問：『四方八面來時如何？』化云：『打中間底。』僧便禮拜，化云：『昨日赴箇村齋，中路值一陣狂風暴雨，向古廟裏避得過。』」師云：「興化被者僧拈出無刃斧子，便乃高竪降旗。寶林堂時若見他禮拜，便休去。何故？且教者漢擔一片板空過一生。」 > Ascending the hall, he cited: "Xinghua, because a monk asked, 'What happens when they come from all four directions and eight quarters?' Xinghua said, 'Strike the one in the middle.' The monk then bowed. Xinghua said, 'Yesterday I went to a village vegetarian feast; halfway along the road I ran into a bout of violent wind and torrential rain, and was able to take shelter in an ancient temple.'" The Master said, "When Xinghua had this monk produce a bladeless axe, he immediately hoisted high the flag of surrender. Had Baolin seen him bow at that time, he would have just stopped. Why? For the time being, let this fellow carry a board and pass his entire life in vain." > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 2.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.2.19) - [Next: 2.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.2.21) - [Up: 2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.2) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000~en-mt.2.20) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.2.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.2.20) · Pramāṇa